Barbara Bernard: New Holyoke Senior Center makes its debut with open house

Holyoke Senior Center executive director Kathleen Bowler shows state Sen. Michael R. Knapik the new $8.1 million center during an August visit of the construction project. The center will hold an open house on Feb. 23.Don Treeger, The Republican

I feel like a town crier (or, because I am so filled with tears of gratitude, should it be town “cryer”) but the Holyoke Senior Center is finished and tomorrow everyone is invited to an open house.

Although this building, located on Pine Street, is for senior citizens age 60 and older, tomorrow will be the day for all to come and see what this community, its neighbors and friends have built to salute generations of senior citizens. It is a beautifully designed and magnificently built facility which will ensure present and future generations of seniors have a special place to call their own.

When you approach the building, take time to admire the grounds. You will see picnic areas, a fountain and flagpoles. As the weather improves, you’ll be able to explore the courtyard bricks which carry the names of people who have been honored or remembered by friends and loved ones.

I want you to look carefully at all of the signage which recognizes individuals, families, businesses and corporations who have underwritten the cost of specific areas. I have neither time nor space to list them here, but the outpouring of help has been remarkable.

The leadership of the Friends of the Council on Aging board of directors completed a remarkable fund-raising effort which went over its goal. Many volunteers helped the co-chairs, Marion Tierney and Ann O’Leary, and board members outdid themselves in presenting facts and figures which inspired donors.

The Golden Seniors, named for the combined clubs of the original Holyoke Golden Age Club and the Holyoke Senior Citizen Club, meets regularly at the Senior Center. With president Ann LeBlanc leading them, the Golden Seniors cooperated with the Friends of the Council on Aging to help raised the funds.

John Gatlin, an architect from Quincy, was the architect for the project. He is renowned for his building, including other senior centers, so he knew what we needed and he provided it. The contractor and subcontractors were fortunate to mild weather last winter, meaning they were able to work almost every day. The end result truly is perfection in my mind.

The kitchen is exceptional, and the daily meals served there are nutritious. The price is $1.75, and the meals are so popular that reservations must be made a day in advance. They are strictly for seniors, and they have the option to pay 50 cents extra to take a meal home. Many who dine there say it is their main meal of the day because the food is so adequate.

There is a mammoth all-purpose room with a stage where there will be performances. One of the favorite is the Holyoke Senior Band, the group of retired musicians put together by Clem Messier several years ago. The senior band provides magnificent concerts for listening and dancing music.

There is a beautiful stair case but also an elevator to the second floor where rooms are assigned for specific purposes. There are rooms for crafts, for card playing, for meetings and for health conferences.

Nothing has been left out; even the bathroom facilities on both floors are just beautiful!

The colors selected for all the spaces are bright and happy. There’s durable and attractive carpeting, and the most comfortable and practical furniture you can imagine has completed the finished look.

Most of all, I am so grateful that this is a new home-away-from-home for deserving senior citizens. Please come see it all and consider making a contribution to honor an occasion or a person. If you are 60 or older, check out the classes and fun times which are available to fill your hours.

Get to know this building. Revel in the fact it truly is the most beautiful new building in the city of Holyoke.

Although for some it has been a long time coming (for me it has been 62 years to reach this point), perfection is always worth waiting for. What a sense of joy that among present-day seniors are children and grandchildren of members of the original Golden Age Club. Â